Anyone see this? I stumbled upon it on cable right when it was starting, so went with it.
I remember reading how it was by big-deal, now-Oscar-winner John Ridley, but that the Hendrix family didn’t support it, and no Hendrix music could be used. Since the Hendrix family had gone through a bunch of legal stuff, I assumed this was part of that, and pretty much any rock bio pick would likely suck huge donkey balls, especially if it can’t use the music, I am sure I shut my brain off at that point.
It was powerful, but left me troubled about it.
I thought it was an interesting story, well told. Andre 3000 totally embodied Hendrix - his voice, mannerisms, general space-cadet-like-a-fox persona. Wonderful. And the pre-Experience music was good, especially when Hendrix wiped the floor with Clapton on Killing Floor. the feel of the story, where ex-Animals bassist Chas Chandler is both desperate and focused, and Hendrix is finding his way, is great.
But. Spoilers.
I had no idea that in this movie, Andre 3000’s Hendrix is shown beating his English girlfriend played by Hayley Atwell of Agent Carter. In one scene, he brutally clubs her - number of times with a phone receiver.
There is no way to interpret an action like that other than Jimi Hendrix is a bad person. Yet, in Googling after seeing it, the girlfriend herself who was played by Atwell says it did not happen and that Hendrix wasn’t violent at all. That’s a hell of an element to include in a person’s character if it isn’t true.
James Brown was a difficult man. Chuck Berry was a difficult man. Sly Stone is a troubled and sometimes difficult man. But I have never thought of Jimi Hendrix that way, and from what I have seen Googling afterwards doesn’t turn up anything obvious.
So - it drew me in and impressed me until it left me troubled.